A one-stop Cyber Safety and Career Tech Expo at Illinois Valley Community College’s Ottawa Center on October 21 will deliver cyber-protection guidelines, as well as a glimpse into a dynamic career field.

The first of three seminars, “Protecting Seniors from Today’s Internet Threats,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the second, “Cyber Parenting,” will follow at 6:30 p.m. The third seminar, “Tech Careers,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Each year, billions of dollars are lost to cyber-crime and that cost keeps rising. As technology evolves, so do the ways online predators reach our children and families. Additionally, one compromised system on a home network is enough to put all devices in the home at risk.

“Cyberattacks are aided by the increasingly popular Generative AI (artificial intelligence),” IVCC Networking Instructor Garrick Whitehead said. “Whether we choose to use it or not, AI continues to be an integral part of how we communicate, live, work, and enjoy life. Unfortunately, it is also popular with those who would use it to hurt others.”

IVCC is a leader in training professionals to combat cyber-crime and develop and operate the next generations of technology. Students use state-of-the art industry-standard technologies to build and develop real-world skills.

IVCC’s Ottawa Center is located at 321 W. Main St., Ottawa. For more information or to register to attend, call the Ottawa Center at 815-224-0800.